Two new arrivals coming to Beech Hollow this week: Jack in the Pulpits!
Both Three-Leafed (Arisaema triphyllum) and Five-Leafed (Arisaema quinatum) Jack in the Pulpits are beauties of the ravines and lowlands of deciduous forests throughout the Southeast.
Their strikingly unusual, hooded flowers are pollinated by specialist fungus gnats, which are attracted to the flowers by their foul smelling aromas. Yes, you read that right, Fungus Gnats performing ecosystem services! Once pollinated, these flowers give way to conical clusters of glistening red berries, which are highly toxic.
To explore more about the complex biology are these fascinating plants, we recommend this article as a good starting point. In Defense of Plants: How Fungus Gnats Maintain Jack-in-the-Pulpits
https://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/tag/Jack+in+the+Pulpit
